Pocket-knife



(No Model.)

G. GARDNER. POCKET KNIFE.

Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

fFi iw J .fl a; m I? o IImillllmlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII G nomus PEYKRS COHIFNOTOMTNWASNINGTON,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GARDNER, OF \VINSTED, CONNECTICUT.

POCKET-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 569,452, dated October 13, 1896.

Applicationiiled July 18,1896. Serial No. 599,660. lNo model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GARDNER, of lVinsted, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have in vented a new Im provement in Pocket-Knives; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view of the knife in closed position with one of the cap-plates removed; Fig. 2, a similar view with the lever turned to permit the blade to be thrown outward; Fig. 3, a side view with the blade thrown and locked outward; Fig. at, an edge view of the knife with the blade thrown out; Fig. 5, a plan view of the lever detached and reversed from the position shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 0, a side view of the knife with the cap removed, opposite to that shown in Fig. Fig. 7, a plan View of modified form of blade.

This invention relates to an improvement in pocket-knives, and particularly to that class in which the blade slides in and out of the handle through an opening at one end thereof.

The object of the invention is a simple arrangement and construction of the lever, by which the blade is held in its open or retired position; and it consists in a construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and recited in the claims.

The frame of the handle consists of side bars A and B, end C, and bolster D, forming a substantially rectangular frame. Through the bolster I) is an opening E, corresponding in size to the blade to be inserted. The blade F, which may be an ordinary knife-blade, as shown in Fig. 3, or a combination-tool, as shown in Fig. 7, is formed integral with the shank G, which is furnished upon one side with steps a and at its opposite side with a pin Z), which pin is beveled toward the end of the shank. The stops a are adapted to strike the inner end of the bolster, so as to prevent the withdrawal of the blade from the frame.

\Vithin the frame and parallel with the blade is a lever I, formed with a finger-piece (Z, which projects outward through a notch ll in the edge of the frame, in which the finger is secured by a pivot c. lVhen the blade is in the frame, one end of the lever engages with the pin b, so as to securely hold the blade in the retired position, a spring J being arranged between the case and the lever to hold the lever in this position. The opposite end of the lever is formed with a head K, in which is an opening L, one portion of which forms a V-shaped notch e. In the under side of the head is a groove f, which extends into the opening L from the inner end'and forms a clearance-space for the pin Z) when the lever is turned to permit the blade to be drawn outward. As the blade is drawn outward the pin passes through the groove f into the opening L, when the lever, under the action of the spring, will again turn so that the pin 1) will engage with the notch e. In this position the blade is securely held outward, and any inward pressure will tend to force the beveled pin 1; into closer engagement with the V-shaped notch c.

It will be understood that the blade will fall in or out by gravity when the lever is turned to release it from either its open or closed position.

The sides of the frame are closed by cappieces M M in the usual manner.

lVit-h this construction, which permits of a solid bolster, I obtain a very strong knife, as the blade is readily held by its shank, which closely fits within the bolster, and so that sidewise springingis prevented. By employing the beveled pin and corresponding V- shaped notch I avoid the tendency of the parts becoming worn and liable to accidental disengagement.

By the term blade, as herein used, I wish to be understood as including either the knifeblade or tool, as before mentioned.

I am aware that knives having blades adapted to be moved in and out of the handle and held in either the open or the closed position by a lever have been made, and I do not therefore wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, such as my invention; but

'What I do claim is- 1. In a knife the combination with the handle, frame and bolster thereof, of an opening through said bolster, a blade movable through said bolster into or out of the frame; steps to limit the movement of the blade, and a pin upon one side of the blade; a lever within said frame and extending longitudinally therein parallel with said blade, and formed with a head at its outer end; an opening in said head, and a clearance-groove into said opening, whereby the pin on the blade may enter said opening for engagement therewith,

said opening; stops to limit the outward movement of said blade; a pin mounted upon one side of the shank of the blade; a springlever within the frame, and extendinglongt tudinally through it parallel with said blade, said lever adapted at its inner end to engage with said pin, and formed at its outer end with a head having an opening therein, and a clearance-groove entering said opening, said opening also formed with a V-shaped notch for engagement with said pin, whereby said blade is held in its open position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE GARDNER. Vitnesses FRANK B. MUNN, SAMUEL A. HERMAN. 

